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Winter ‘09 Issue 13

Glorious blue skies and piles of snow greeted the 25 students waking on the first day of their ski trip in Temu. At 1,400m, this small mountain village is on the Passo Tonale ski circuit, a natural amphitheatre that marks the border between Lombardy and Trentino.

of the best ever in Tonale. They were perfect for the beginners’ group who made rapid progress, moving through the green runs and, by the end of day one, snow-ploughing down the blue runs, albeit with a few spills on the way. The fresh snow meant plenty of powder for the advanced skiers, who were quickly leaping down the slopes with instructor ‘Super’ Mario setting the pace.

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he weather remained fine for most of the week, with plenty of snow falling to make the conditions some

As the week panned out, the groups began to explore more of the slopes, skiing the natural amphitheatre that marks the border between the Val di Sole and Vallecamonica. Open to the sun, it had fantastic views, with altitudes from 1,884m to 3,100m, between the Ortles- Cevedale and Adamello-Presanella mountain ranges. Expeditions included skiing the eight miles back over to Temu, visiting the Presena glacier, the site of a WWI front line between Austria and Italy, and taking on the long black run back down from it, with of course, the occasional stop for hot chocolate on the way.

A highlight for all was the night skiing at Tonale, two hours of skiing on slopes lit only by floodlights. And Vancouver’s Olympics had nothing on the BGS slalom race.

The week ended with a blizzard, so the students really did experience all types of skiing conditions, from beautifully groomed pistes on a sunny day to knee- deep powder in driving wind and zero visibility. A big thank you to Mr Fuller, Miss Conboy (snowboard legend) and Mr Clark (who can now add skiing to his other sporting abilities).

Peak Conditions...

...for BGS ski trip

Spring ‘10 Issue 14 9

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BGS Exploration

BGS on an

ROLL

On a sunny and suitably chilly weekend in March, students from Year 11 and Lower Sixth headed for the Peak District to complete the next stage of their Arctic expedition training.

Two teams of fourteen students are preparing to undertake a journey that will take them camping, kayaking and trekking deep into the fjordlands and glaciers of Arctic Norway. The three days in the Peaks stretched their horizons with just a small taste of what they might expect. Resolve was tested in a full day’s hill walking, completed while carrying a

full expedition pack; there were lots of opportunities for problem-solving, with sessions on high and low ropes. The students learnt to master a kayak and paddle, an experience made all the more realistic by the freezing temperatures and icy reservoir. The session was also a learning experience for expedition leaders Stephen Saddler and Paul Donovan:

Malta 2010

Year 9 and Year 10 girls took their enthusiasm and high spirits to Malta at half term, completing a five-day netball tour against some unexpected odds.

until the first opposition team arrived. They were an adult side, something that was to be an ongoing feature of the trip.

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Undaunted, the girls played all their matches against extremely strong

hey had a busy evening match schedule. Embarking on the first training session, all went to plan

opponents, working together and training hard to improve their game. The highlight match saw the girls pitted against the Malta U19 National Squad. Although the home side demonstrated superior tactical knowledge, the BGS team showed how quickly they had learnt to compete, and the match was anything but a one-way affair, a real confidence

time to get to know their teams and assess their individual and team strengths in preparation for the more challenging conditions in the wild. Says Stephen, “Both teams can

be proud of what they’ve achieved. They’ve come through confidently, well-prepared and motivated for the challenge of the Arctic.”

The students embark on their 20 day wilderness journey in July, using kayaks to negotiate coastlines and fjords and testing their rope work climbing glaciers and ice caps.

booster highlighting their determination and abilities.

Off-court there was also plenty of sightseeing to be done. High points were the boat trip and the chance to discover some of the extensive history of the island. The spectacle of carnival season, in the capital Valetta, epitomised a colourful, vibrant and energetic week.

“We weren’t expecting to win, but we wanted to win – and we all worked hard and really bonded. I think we all got a lot out of the experience, and I really enjoyed the chance to mix with girls from another year-group.” Annie Koehli Y9 Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11